Week 1: Design
& Icons
& Icons
What are the shapes in which a church can be built?
Cross, Boat, Circle
When we sing praises to God, we are doing the work of what other beings?
The Angels!
Who can raise incense?
The Pope, The Bishops, & Ordained Priests
Can anyone take communion?
Anyone who is baptized and anointed with holy myron!
What should we do at church? What shouldn’t we do?
We should learn the prayers, sing along with the hymns we know, and stand in prayer.
We shouldn't move around, talk to anyone, talk to ourselves, or go to the bathroom.
What does it mean that God is the Pantocrator?
All-Powerful/Creator of all things
How many Major/Minor Feasts do we have
7 Major Feasts ( The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Theophany(Baptism), Palm Sunday, Resurrection, The Ascension, The Pentecost).
7 Minor Feasts (The Circumcision of the Lord, The Presentation of the Lord into the Temple, The Escape into Egypt, The Wedding at Cana of Galilee, Thomas Sunday, Covenant Thursday, and the Transfiguration).
How many chains hold the cup of the censer? What do they represent?
3 Chains, representing the Trinity.
In what ways can we prepare ourselves for communion?
We can go to Vespers the night before, we can repent/confess to Abouna before taking in communion, and we should fast for nine hours before.
Can we race our friends to see who can take communion first?
We should be respectful to those around us and be patient, as Jesus would. We should go to take the Eucharist(Blood&Body) only with those in our row.
What is the iconostasis? Where is it? What icons are found on it?
The Iconostasis is a wooden frame with three doors and icon holders, seperating the church and the altar. (Christ the Pantocrator, Mary & Jesus, The Baptism, The Annunciation).
How many different tunes do we have?
6; (Annual, Joyful(Feasts/Celebrations), Sorrowful(Holy Week Funerals), Lenten(Great Fast/Jonah's Fast), Hosanna Tune(Palm Sunday/Feast of the Cross), Kiahk Tune.
What do the upper & lower domes represent?
The upper dome represents heaven, the lower representing St.Mary(holding Christ).
Who can pray on the bread and wine to be the Body and Blood of Jesus? Can we do it without the priest?
Only ordained priests pray the epiclesis (prayer for the holy spirit to transform the bread & wine) just before communion. This practice dates all the way back to the Old Testament.
When can we officially leave the church?
When Abouna gives the last blessing after the curtain closes.
Priest: " The love of God the Father; the grace of the only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ; and the communion and gift of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Go in peace. The peace of the Lord be with you all. Amen."
People: And with your spirit.
What is the Bosom of the Father?
The Bosom of the Father is a curved picture of Christ the Pantocrator sitting on his throne, with Angels/Archangels, 24 Priests raising incense. In one hand, he holds a hand blessing those he watches over, and in the other a scepter (staff) as the judge of us all.
There is always a lit candle in front of it, representing Christ watching over us all.
What two main events do we remember in the midnight praises?
The crossing of the Red Sea & The Three Holy Youth
What does the burning charcoal represent?
The burning charcoal held by the lower dome represents Christ's humanity while on earth.
Who gives him the authority & how?
Ranking Bishops or higher are the only roles allowed to ordain the rank of Priest.
When do we read in liturgy? What do we read? In what order?
We read from The Bible in the "Liturgy of the Word" (one of the five parts of a regular liturgy). We read the Pauline Epistle(13), The Catholic Epistle(8), The Praxis(Book of Acts), The Synaxarion(Lives of the Saints), The Psalm & Gospel.